Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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This is my 1st Post. My husband & I are the only ones (now all of my new friends here) that know I've just been told I have a 11cm cancerous tumor & smaller ones in my right breast. My response to my doctor was "ok.. Just take my breasts". I have zero knowledge or zero history in my family of breast cancer. It's been 3 hours now & im just numb. What am I supposed to be feeling right now? Please help.
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HarleyD, I'm so sorry. You're in the best place and we ARE your friends. We are warm, caring, informative, supportive. Please don't make any decisions right now. You do not know enough! You need to educate yourself and one of the best sources is Dr Susan Love's Breast Book. Borrow or buy it and read it ASAP. Then you will have some knowledge. Right now you don't know what you don't know. We have all been there. It is scary as hell. Have you had a biopsy or only a mammogram? That is helpful. If you've had a biopsy did you find out the ER and PR status as well as the HER2 status? How old are you? Age can influence treatment choices. We need to know what you know - just put it in your profile and make it public (you've already figured that part out!).
It is possible that a mastectomy may be the best option for you. OR it may not be. You need to know the questions to ask your breast surgeon. Was that who you met with?
Take a deep breath. Your brain is whirling but things don't usually move very speedily with breast cancer and you have time to learn about your particular situation, the choices open to you, what treatment plans are being proposed. Many of us have had our cases reviewed by a tumor board before even seeing the surgeon and definitely afterward to decide what would be the best course of treatment(s) for us.
Do ask all your questions and we'll answer.
HUGS!
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Grazy, it will be interesting to see what the difference is here in Spokane. Every center is different. You'd think that there would be a standard as to who coordinates follow-up care, wouldn't you? That's on my schedule for next week - meet and choose my oncologists or maybe only one, don't know.
HUGS!
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Dara, glad you had such a wonderful day! Love the picture.
HUGS!
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It's hard to figure out what the new normal for what the breast should feel like is. First it felt fibrous. Now after 4 months feels more like a small lump where the lumpectomy was done. Had lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy and 28 whole breast radiation 6 boost treatments. Finished 3 weeks ago and skin is pretty good but the nipple is larger than before and honestly that creeps me out. My surgeon said that is from radiation. I see my Radiation Onocoligist in a week . I trust him implicitly, more than the surgeon. I'll see what he says but I am nervous.
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MonaBegonia, It can take a year or more before your breast discovers its new normal. I don't know if your nipple will return to its pre-rads size or not.
BTW, please fill out your profile with your dx, treatments etc. and make it public. That helps immensely.
HUGS!
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I had something really peculiar happen last night and would like to know if I'm the only one. I'd been working, unpacking, reaching and stretching with my "bad" side all day. Then spent 30 minutes or more on my cellphone with my cousin and, yes, I am "left-earred" - my bad side, so was holding the phone with my left hand. All of sudden I had the worst pain in my breast (NOT my chest). Went into my arm. I changed bras and that helped. After I thought about it, it was more like a charley horse in my breast. Absolutely no aftereffects. But really queer.
HUGS!
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Thanks for all the well wishes on the house! Been crazy getting all the inspections etc organized still not believing we did this!
On the follow up front I see RO Tuesday for 1 month follow up and I plan to discontinue with them at that time.
I saw MO(nurse practitioner) last week and will have Mamogram in September and app with MO. MRI in Febuary
Done with BS and alternate app with MO/NP every 3 months for a year.
Started Tamoxifen taking at night and having some nausea with it. I guess my stomach dislikes all BC treatment! LG I sympathize! Hopefully we will adjust.
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Grazy, I definitely hope it settles down. I'm happy with weight loss and have been walking at least one hour everyday despite the pain, I just ignore it. Since the hysterectomy, I had already started losing some weight because I was eating soft foods only for four weeks because anything heavy would constipated me regardless of the stool softeners. Maybe once i get back to work and in a regular routine, maybe it will get better. I know time will pass and eventually well be on here stressing over our follow up mammograms!!!!LOL!!!!! Hugs!!
Dara, looks beautiful there! Glad you had a great day!! Send me some of that weather! It was 103 degrees here. I open the back door to look outside for 5 minutes and sweat starts dripping down my back. Ill be glad to start exercising again at the gym after work in air conditioning with fans and hydro massage bed as reward for a good workout!!!!!
Peggy, hope you get all in the house done that you want! I was just off for 6 weeks and STILL haven't unpacked the boxes of paperwork and stuff I had packed to evacuate when the damn let out too much water up north and we almost flooded. People 1/2 mile from me lost their homes.
Mona, I'm the same way. I had lumpectomy AND reexcision around areola and above nipple. I finished rads may 14 and my areola is twice the size of the other and the whole area has hardened even more since. Kind of scared to know what is normal and I don't feel confident that I would know if something was abnormal
Harley, welcome! I feel for you because I remember all too well what your feeling. Peggy is great at welcoming newbies. My advice - become informed! Read, read,read!!!! Get copies of all reports!!!! I had bad experience with surgeon missing that I had cancer in the margins of my lump. 2 out of 3 of my doctors missed it!!! Ask any questions you want here. Anything you don't understand on your path report, look it up!! I didn't know what her 2 was, didn't know significance of ER and PR, grade, oncotype, I had to learn from the ground up DESPITE being a nurse for 20 years. I've only ever worked geriatrics. Hugs! Breathe!! Ill keep you in my prayers!
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HarleyD, I'm so sorry for your diagnosis. But I agree with Peggy that this is the best place to come for both information and support. I have a great deal of bc in my family, but I admit it was still a shock when the dr told me my biopsy was malignant. The book Peggy referenced is phenomenal. My sister-in-law sent it to my sister when she found a 10 cm tumor, and then I ordered it right away when I was told. It is easy to read and comprehend. Another one I found particularly helpful was "The Breast Cancer Survival Manual" by John Link MD. At the end of each chapter is a list of checkpoint questions that I took with me to dr appointments.
One of the hardest things about going through all this is the waiting. It is excruciating! Know that you can vent, cry, ask questions, and share absolutely anything in these threads and it is nothing that all of us haven't done before you. The women on this site are so accepting, and I find they are more like friends all across the nation and world already. We all believe that knowledge helps us deal with this very stressful experience. Please check back often. It doesn't matter what the diagnosis, you will be totally welcomed here. Hang in there. Dara
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Iam just checking in. Doing extremely well. I am off the Norco and taking Tylenol only.
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Yay Molly, glad you are doing well!!!!
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Glad you're doing well, Molly. Thinking of you
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So glad you're doing so well, Molly! Now just don't overdo!!
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Hi everyone I am a newbie here and just learning the lingo so to speak
Thanks to DaraB for directing me to the Lounge
A little bit about me: I am 60 yrs old (hard to believe seems like yesterday I was chasing after my 2 kids)
I live in New Brunswick Canada in a small community, we have 3 acres on the most beautiful lake in NB, after years of city living I feel like I am on vacation every day...lake living is good for the soul.
In Oct 2015 I was diagnosed with Throat Cancer ( Squamous Cell Carcinoma) After 35 radiation treatments, 3 Chemo treatments and 2 months of lying in a hospital bed my latest PET scan revealed my throat cancer was gone!!!!!! but it also revealed a tiny pin prick in my left breast.
June 28th - after a core biopsy the results came back positive for IDC , size 7.6 mm grade 1, lymph node status is unknown, ER & PR positive HER2NEU negative. Recommended treatment at this point is Lumpectomy, radiation, & hormone Therapy.
Lumpectomy and SNB is scheduled for August 25th.
I am back to using a G- tube to try to gain back some weight as I have just gotten back on solid food in the past month or so but my weight is still low 94 lbs and want to beef up before surgery.
Like everyone, I am not looking forward to the surgery and treatments, but the prognosis this time is much better than the 30% chance they gave me with the throat cancer. I beat that and I will beat this.
I am so happy to have found this site, there are very few resources for head and neck cancer so I went through that alone....so glad to have a place to come and discuss everything and hearing everyone's stories and tips, etc.
We will all get through this
thanks
Charlene
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Molly, thank you for checking in! I was hoping we'd hear from you. Glad you are doing so well. Now take it easy!
HUGS!
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Charlene, Welcome! We're glad you found us (and sorry you had to). You've had an incredibly rough year - yeah for beating the throat cancer. That's awesome! You'll do just fine and I suspect you'll find the BC treatments that are planned for you easier than what you've been through. I can't imagine how difficult it was for you to go through your previous cancer alone. You will have fantastic support here! We are caring, warm, supportive, informative and a bit nuts. Ask your questions and we'll answer. Two things. One, if you haven't found this book already, please get it: Dr Susan Love's Breast Book. It's invaluable for explaining all things BC. Then you will find out what you don't know and the questions to ask now that you do. Two, please put your diagnosis and proposed treatments in your profile and make them public. We have a hard time remembering each person's particulars. You might want to put your age and previous cancer journey in your signature, too - that's vital info.
We're hear to listen to you, provide shoulders to cry on, a safe place to vent, and laugh with you at all the weird things that go on just because we have BC and life is so crazy.
HUGS!
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Welcome, Charlene, from one Canadian gal to another! Dara was wise to direct you here - you have definitely landed in the softest spot, this "Lumpectomy Lounge" - I think can safely say that you won't find better friendship and support anywhere else than from this group.
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Hi Charlene, and welcome to this thread! It is my favorite, very supportive and upbeat! I just had breakfast with a neighbor last weekend. (Ironically, when I moved to this neighborhood 2 years ago, I met Tony and learned that we had both graduated from the same high school in the same year in a high school over a hundred miles away! We didn't know each other, but had several friends in common. Small world.) Anyway, he too was diagnosed with throat cancer, underwent the radiation which caused the severe weight loss also. That was 17 years ago and he is doing great! Keep those stories right in sight as you go through these next months. Glad you found us here, but so sorry there's a need for you other than just meeting some terrific women! Dara
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Yey Molly - glad to hear you are doing ok!
Dara - your boat ride to San Pedro sounds wonderful! Dealing with your same heatwave here in San Diego. Yuck! We live about 30 miles inland, just before mountains. So it was 107 degrees yesterday!
Harley D and Charlene - very tough time, the first days after being diagnosed. The ladies here are very helpful and kind! It's helpful to read other experiences.
Plan B58 and Grazy - sorry to hear about the nausea, that stinks! B58 I had a hysterectomy in 2014 and used Fiber Wise, a drink fiber supplement mix, at a friend's suggestion. It helped me tremendously with the associated constipation. It was orange flavored and went down easily.
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Had follow up with BS yesterday. Healing well. Wants to see me one more time about 1/2 way thru Rads. Got a copy of path rpt (thx Harley for info about your doc missing something!). Nothing really stood out that doc hadn't already told me. Area was spread out over 2.8 cm versus less than 1 cm as was believed from biopsy and mam. Grade was changed to 2 from 2/3. Deep margin is .4 cm and others are at least 1 cm. All positive news considering. Have appt with RO on 8/5 for mapping. Appear to be moving right along. So glad to have a thorough PCP doc who got everything going so quickly!
Hope everyone has a nice day.
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Beebazboob, That's great having such a good path report. It is nice to have a PCP on top of things - that doesn't always happen. Now enjoy the weekend!
HUGS!
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Beebazboob, great news on the path report. I found mine very helpful and really defined every term, etc. I wasn't familiar with, such as Nottingham Score mitotic rate, etc. Of course I'm still in holding pattern for 1 more week as they do additional testing since I'm intermediate with onco. You don't know how lucky you are with your PCP! I recently left 2 because they don't have a similar philosophy about doctor/patient relationship being a collaborative one! Try to stay cool, the good thing about me being further inland is that we have really good AC! My poor daughter in Carlsbad is sweltering as they have no air but it's still so hot. 110 predicted for here today!
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Molly, it's great to hear you are doing okay! Hang in there!
HarleyD, just sit tight. You are in the scariest place right now, but it WILL get better! I remember how upset and helpless I felt when I was diagnosed last December, and thought it was the end of everything. But it wasn't. I am making it through each step, one at a time, and I know my life will be long and happy. Yours will be too! Hang in with us!
Charlene, I am so sorry you have a second round of cancer to deal with. I'm sending my biggest hug to you! And I wish I could send you one of the triple coconut muffins I just made - lots of calories! My weight got a little low during my first chemo round, and that is without all the throat problems that you have to deal with. I hope you will put on a few pounds before you start this next treatment plan. I'm glad you found us!
Beebazboob, glad your treatment plan is still the same and there were no nasty surprises for you.
I'm at day 4 on the third chemo round. I went hiking yesterday and felt good, but was tired and sleepy afterward. My new SE this time is a lingering metallic taste after I eat watermelon, of all things. And I got into a bad mood this morning due to disrupted sleep. First the noisy cat wanted to go out at 5 am, then at 6:30 am the "neighbors" who are 1/4 mile away started blasting mariachi music on their outdoor speakers - ay, ay, ay, ay!!! No more sleep for me, and I'm feeling really tired.
I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend as much as possible!
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Moondust, glad you are coping well. I'd have considered drastic measures especially with the neighbors. Cats? Well, you just can't win with them, can you? Stay cool!
HUGS!!
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Moondust, I feel your pain with the cat!! I only sleep in 1 to 2 hour intervals due to the severe hot flashes i have, and I get very ANGRY when he wakes me up to go outside lol!! I'm usually calm, but he will often go to the door, look outside for 5 minutes and decide he wants to stay in!!!! I'm guilty of pushing his butt down the steps a time or two just so he won't wake me upagain 30 minutes later (as he often does) LOL!!!
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LG and Moondust, my kitty just wants to eat. She's an indoor cat so that isn't an issue. I do remember our cats who did go outside and it was annoying.
HUGS!
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Thanks Ladies I think I have now figured out how to post
diagnosis and treatment
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Charlene, even though it isn't rocket science, I had HECK figuring all that out when i first got on!!! I can do anything hard, but anything simple gives me a headache!!!! Lol!
Peggy, unfortunately I think a bobcat went after my cat and hes so scared now that he wakes all hours of the night to go out and will only go potty if I stand outside WITH him. it's a huge cat!!!! But he's driving me crazy and I'm already getting little sleep and won't have much tolerance for it when I go back to work next week. I may shut him up at night in spare bedroom with cat box to get some peace!!!!!!!
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